Today’s picture shows a fine bunch of garden bluebells
It rained very heavily during the night but by the time I got up, the weather was fine if cloudy. I had a quick mouthful of cereal and zipped down to Longtown to fetch my speedy bike from the bike doctor. On my way back, I dropped in at the producers’ market to pick up some cheese and soap. The reason for the rush was because I had arranged with Dropscone to do a longer ride than usual starting at 10am. I was just about ready in time.
It was a great pleasure to be back on the speedy bike after trundling around on the slow bike for several days but sadly, whatever the bike shop has fixed, it hasn’t fixed the knocking noise that made me take the bike down there in the first place. This didn’t stop us enjoying a 32 mile ride by way of Waterbeck, Gair, Kirkpatrick Fleming and back over the Kerr to Langholm. Thanks to Dropscone’s keenness to keep his pulse at a reasonable level, we went at a steady speed and would have had time to enjoy the view if it hadn’t still been very murky.
After coffee and girdle scones, Dropscone went home and I made a pot of vegetable soup for lunch. Mrs Tootlepedal and our visitor, Sarah had gone for a tramp along Calfield Rig and back by Timpen while we were out cycling and they were ready for lunch when they got in. After lunch there was a period of soporific calm and I took the opportunity to catch a couple of flying visitors to the bird feeder.
You can see by the rain in these pictures that the walkers had got off the hill in the nick of time.
After our siesta, we gathered ourselves together to take Sarah to see the bluebells. It was about half past four by this time and pretty cloudy so it wasn’t ideal photographic conditions for shooting pictures in a wood but I took the camera anyway.
We came down off Stubholm Bank and went back towards the park along Easton’s walk. On the site of one of the many landslips along the way, we were impressed by this waterfall of wild garlic. It should look sensational when the flowers are out in a day or two.
I love big trees standing alone and I took this picture of a tree on the edge of the park with Caroline Street behind it.
When we got home, it was time for a look round the garden to check on the flowers.
In the evening, to round off a busy day, we took Sarah out to the Douglas where we enjoyed an excellent meal after which the only thing left to do was to lie on the sofa, loosen the waistcoat buttons and groan a little. I did it.
I leave you with one of Mrs Tootlepedal’s colourful corners.
I am sorry about the wire brace showing but they are very necessary to support the larger plants in the usual windy weather.
Tootlepedal's Blog 
Lovely photographs again – thankyou. I am reminded it is time for my walk to see the bluebells again this year. Glad you enjoyed your meal at the Douglas – they do fill you up rather well don’t they!
Regarding the knocking noise on your bike – could it be your pulse?
They certainly do.
Amazing pictures, as always. The knocking noise must be frustrating. Is it coming from the bottom bracket?
I don’t think so. It continues when I stop pedalling so wheel bearings look like a possibility.
Wow, what a cornucopia of colours, quite dazzling to the eye.
I am working on a bluebell patch like that in my bogsy wood….I wonder if they are Scilla or some special kind of UK wild bluebell?
They are: Hyacinthoides non-scripta (formerly Endymion non-scriptus or Scilla non-scripta), a bulbous perennial plant, found in Atlantic areas from north-western Spain to the British Isles, and also frequently used as a garden plant. It is known in English as the common bluebell or simply bluebell